First Sunday of Advent :: Readings, Reflections & a Candle Litany

Scriptures readings for the first Sunday of Advent from New Revised Common Lectionary: HERE

A couple Advent reflections worth checking out this first week of Advent…
"Advent/Darkness" by Christena Cleveland

“Tireless Hope” by Andrew Ulasich


Candle Litany for Advent

God our life and our breath.
We witness your coming
In the humility of service,
The poor and marginalized,
The new born child,
In the heart of each person we meet,
And in the beauty of all creation.

We watch, wait and witness the mystery of your conception in us,
(The candle is lit)
We are waiting
We are watching
We are witnessing

~ Taken from:
http://re-worship.blogspot.com.ar/2014/11/advent-candle-litany.html
Originally posted by James Hawes, on Sunday Papers. http://www.sundaypapers.org.uk/

A Thanksgiving Liturgy & a Prayer from Walter Brueggemann...

A Thanksgiving Liturgy from Christine Sine on Godspace blog…HERE.

Thanksgiving Prayer from Walter Brueggemann

The witnesses tell of your boundless generosity,
and their telling is compelling to us:
You give your world to call the worlds into being;
You give your sovereign rule to emancipate the slaves and the oppressed;
You give your commanding fidelity to form your own people;
You give your life for the life of the world...
broken bread that feeds,
poured out wine and binds and heals.
You give...we receive...and are thankful.

We begin this day in gratitude,
thanks that is a match for your self-giving,
gratitude in gifts offered,
gratitude in tales told,
gratitude in lives lived.

Gratitude willed, but no so readily lived,
held back by old wounds turned to powerful resentment,
slowed by early fears become vague anxiety,
restrained by self-sufficiency in a can-do arrogance,
blocked by amnesia unable to recall gifts any longer.

Do this yet. Create innocent spaces for us this day
for the gratitude we intend.

In thankfulness,
we will give,
we will tell,
we will live,
your gift through us to gift the world. Amen

~ Walter Brueggemann, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (Fortress Press, 2002)

Prayer from Walter Brueggemann

Blown by God towards newness

The news is that God’s wind is blowing.
It may be a breeze that
cools and comforts.
It may be a gust that
summons you to notice.
It may be a storm that blows you where you have
never been before.

Whatever the wind is in your life,
pay attention to it …
and the blessing of God,
Father, Son and Spirit,
will abide with you always.

~ Walter Brueggemann
(Prayers for a Privileged People
Abingdon Press, 2008)

Advent 2014 :: Coming Soon...

Advent begins in just two weeks on Sunday, November 30. I always find it helpful to consider how I will make space for the season beforehand. There are so many meaningful and rich Advent resources out there that it helps to narrow down which ones will be most helpful beforehand. Instead of posting my own list of online Advent resources, I will point you to Christine Sine’s blog, Godspace. She has already posted her annual list...HERE. Or you can check out my resource guide from last year...HERE.

Christine Sine's annual Advent series is always worth keeping up with. This year it is titled, “Who Will You Invite to the Manger?”.

Instead of posting online resoures, I will share several Advent books that I have enjoyed over the past several years. Most of them are available in Kindle format.  You can click on the book title to learn more about the book.

A Journey toward Home: Soul Travel from Advent through Epiphany 
By Christine Sine & Kristin Carroccino
Speaking of Christine Sine, this new guide to Advent was just published and includes reflections from a wide range of people.

Through the Advent Door: Entering a Contemplative Christmas
By Jan L. Richardson
I really enjoyed this book last year and plan to use it again this Advent. Jan Ricardson has another Advent book called “Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas.” She also offers an online Advent retreat that you can check out HERE.

Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent 
By Enuma Okoro
This book focuses on waiting and longing of Elizabeth and Zechariah.

Monastery Journey to Christmas
By Brother Victor-Antoine D’Avila-Latourrette
I purchased this book a few years ago and it quickly became a favorite!

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
This is a great compilation of readings from both classic and contemporary writers. An Advent classic!

Sounding the Seasons: Seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year
By Malcolm Guite
A book of sonnets and poetry for the liturgical year that begins with Advent.